This newsletter contains:



• News from March landmark London kava symposium
• KC’s member survey
• Kava culture in Fiji video
• Dieback disease video
• Blog on Earth Day and kava

UK Kava Coalition and CEBDP Host Kava Summit in London

In March, the UK Kava Coalition and the CEBDP hosted policymakers, researchers, and cultural leaders in London for a first-ever Kava in the UK Symposium—an effort to advance kava policy in the UK.

Held at the ORTUS Conferencing and Events Venue in Denmark Hill, the full-day calendar featured expert presentations and panel discussions exploring kava’s role across public health, international policy, agriculture, and diaspora communities. The event concluded with an evening reception, fostering continued dialogue among stakeholders.

At one event, Warrant Officer Akuila Dresa spoke about a clear contradiction—Fijian servicemen serve the UK yet cannot access kava, a key part of their culture. Advancing policy isn’t merely for the sake of policy but is about dignity, respect, and cultural recognition.

Kava Coalition Member Survey 2026

The KC developed a short survey for members to better understand your needs and wants and to continue to serve those interests. We strive to deliver high-quality, meaningful support to all parts of the kava industry.

The survey is planned to close on Thurs., April 30. Thank you!

Exploring Fiji's Kava Culture

The latest episode of KC’s “Inside the Tanoa” series took Executive Director Douglas La Rose to Viti Levu, the largest island of Fiji that contains its capital city, Suva.

Douglas met with farmers and government officials and visited key kava-growing regions to experience and show firsthand how kava shapes community and industry across the islands.

Kava Dieback Disease

In a new, brief video, Douglas talks about the severe impact of dieback disease on Fiji’s kava farmers and the collaborative efforts underway with stakeholders to address it.

The advisory complements the KC’s existing educational resources, including documents and videos on kava plant health, for farmers in Fiji, Vanuatu, and elsewhere.

Kava and Earth Day

“Earth Day is a reminder that agriculture cannot be judged only by what it produces this season,” writes Douglas, “but by what it leaves behind for the next generation. In the kava industry, that lesson feels especially important.”

While to some, kava may just be another export crop, in reality it is far more—a cultural keystone species, rooted in land, tradition, and community across the Pacific.

Making observations and drawing lessons from Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and other nations and communities where kava grows, Douglas writes that Earth Day is a moment “to reflect on what kind of kava industry we want to build.”

Visit our website at kavacoalition.org